Quontay Spinks, 20, was sentenced to life on April 27 after previously pleading guilty to six separate cases before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry G. Williams.
Spinks was charged with attempted murder and multiple gun offenses after carrying out a non-fatal shooting incident with three other suspects on Sept. 12, 2024. According to the victim, the suspects exited a vehicle and attempted to rob him at gunpoint on the 600 block of Light Street. After defending himself with a registered firearm, he survived the incident with a leg injury.
Two days later, on Sept. 14, 2024, Spinks and several other suspects attempted to rob Antonio Peoples, 36, on the 700 block of Aliceanna Street. Peoples reportedly tried to defend himself and managed to disarm one of the suspects, but ultimately sustained fatal injuries from the incident.
In between the two shootings, Spinks was also charged for his involvement in multiple armed robberies and carjackings. In one case, Spinks robbed a victim at gunpoint and stole her purse, which contained keys to her Maserati. The next day, he uploaded a post to Instagram showing himself driving the car.
Hours after killing Peoples, Spinks carried out another armed robbery. He was arrested on Nov. 1, 2024, whereupon he admitted to his involvement in the crimes. Though he confessed he initially wished to steal a diamond chain Peoples was wearing on his neck, he claimed he did not kill him.
Spinks pleaded guilty to the six crimes earlier this year on Feb. 12, and accepted a plea deal from the prosecution of life, suspending all but 60 years. Defense attorney Matthew Connell advised Spinks opted to enter a plea rather than go to trial due to the state’s “overwhelming evidence” against him.
Prior to sentencing, Connell asked Judge Williams to consider placing Spinks in a youthful offender program. Spinks was only 18 when he committed the crimes, and just two months shy of graduating high school when he was arrested. Adding that Spinks has expressed a desire to further his education and demonstrated deep remorse for his actions, Connell also asked that Spinks be allowed to petition for release at some point during the latter half of his sentence.
Letters from Spinks’ family were then read to Judge Williams. A letter from his mother asked the court to consider his character and his care toward other people. She stated that Spinks became a father at 18, and that his daughters and brothers are struggling to cope in the wake of his convictions. She concluded by asking Judge Williams to give her son a sentence that prioritizes rehabilitation.
Letters from Spinks’ father and grandmother echoed the sentiments put forth by his mother.
“We cannot ignore the fact that Mr. Spinks has terrorized the city of Baltimore,” the prosecution said on Monday, adding that a sentence on the higher end would be most fitting. “He’s lucky he only killed Peoples that night.”
Peoples’ mother also delivered an impact statement to the court, describing how the incident broke her heart. “As a parent, I don’t want no parent to go through what I went through,” she said while wiping away tears.
“I am very sincerely sorry for the loss of her son,” Spinks responded in his statement to court. “I take accountability for my actions.”
Peoples’ former girlfriend also testified that their son, who looked up to their father, is now struggling in school because of the incident. “This was one of my biggest fears,” she said.
The Office of the State’s Attorney released a statement commending the state and the court for their roles in prosecution the cases and sentencing Spinks.
“I thank the court for handing down the maximum sentence under the plea agreement parameters for a Defendant who terrorized our residents, visitors, and ultimately took the life of Mr. Antonio Peoples,” said State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates. “While nothing can undo this loss, I hope this sentence brings the family a sense of justice and closure.”
